Page:Tales from the Gulistan (1928).pdf/114

The Morals of Dervishes

having once walked all night with a caravan, and then slept on the edge of the desert. A distracted man, who had accompanied us on that journey, raised a shout, ran towards the desert, and took not a moment's rest. When it was daylight, I asked him what state of his that was. He replied:

"I saw the bulbuls commencing to lament on the trees, the partridges on the mountains, the frogs in the water, and the beasts in the desert; so I bethought myself that it would not be becoming for me to sleep in carelessness, whilst they were all praising God.

"Yesterday at dawn a bird lamented, depriving me of sense, patience, strength, and consciousness. One of my intimate friends, who had perhaps heard my [distressed] voice, said: 'I could not believe that thou wouldst be so dazed by a bird's cry!' I replied: 'It is not becoming to humanity that I should be silent when birds chant praises.'"